Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi on Friday received a phone call from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the presidency said.
The two leaders discussed developments in the Middle East, with Sisi stressing the need to preserve regional peace and stability by building on a recently reached ceasefire between the United States and Iran and launching serious negotiations to settle outstanding issues, according to a presidency statement.
Sisi also reviewed what he described as Egypt’s intensive contacts with various parties to curb escalation, reiterating Cairo’s support for the security and stability of Arab states and its rejection of any violation of their sovereignty, the statement said.
Meloni praised Egypt’s efforts to shore up the ceasefire and agreed on the importance of maintaining regional stability, said presidential spokesman Mohamed El-Shenawy.
She also called for reopening the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping without fees, safeguarding Gulf security and reaching an agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme that includes relevant guarantees, while taking steps to prevent a renewed war, the statement added.
The call also touched on Lebanon, with Meloni expressing hope for direct negotiations leading to a ceasefire there. She said Hezbollah had made wrong choices, while Israel’s response had gone beyond legitimate self-defence, according to the presidency.
Meloni also stressed the need for success in what she described as Islamabad talks to reach a final agreement ending the war in the region, the statement said.
Sisi and Meloni further reviewed Egyptian-Italian relations and ways to boost cooperation, notably in trade and the economy, as well as coordination to tackle irregular migration. Meloni thanked Egypt for what she called its tangible efforts on the issue, the statement added.
